A TORY hopeful for the Speaker's post led the singing of sectarian songs at a Rangers supporters' club, it was claimed last night.

A political blogger posted a picture of MP John Bercow, who was favourite to succeed Michael Martin, with flags appearing to bear Ulster Defence Association symbols behind him.

Witnesses say it dates back to a meeting of the ultra-right Federation of Conservative Students at the unidentified Rangers club in the late 1980s.

And they claim Bercow led the crowd in singing The Sash, as well as songs about IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands.

One said last night: "He seemed to know all the words and was singing heartily."

Within hours of the picture appearing on the Guido Fawkes blog yesterday, Bercow had been replaced by Labour's Margaret Beckett as favourite to be elected as Speaker.

But Scottish Labour MPs said it would not stop them voting for him.

Despite his past as chairman of the FCS - banned by Tory hardliner Norman Tebbit for being too right-win- Bercow is now to the left of the Conservative Party.

He is also known to be unpopular among his Conservative colleagues.

And some Labour members suggested the picture may have been unearthed as part of aTory plot to stop him winning.

Paisley and Renfrewshire North MP Jim Sheridan said: "There has been a concerted campaign by the Tories to stop him being elected.

"He was a bit of a right-winger in the past but I've always found him to be a very decent guy. He might have a bit of a chequered history but he's not like that now."

Another Labour MP added: "I don't think there's any doubt this has been put up to stop Bercow becoming Speaker.

However, I don''t think it will have any impact on how MPs vote.

"I know it certainly wouldn't stop me voting for him."

Bercow, who represents Buckingham and stood unsuccessfully as Conservative candidate in Motherwell South in 1987, was not available for comment last night.

Ladbrokes spokesman Robin Hutchison said: "Bercow has been drumming up support since Michael Martin announced he was stepping down.

"But his chances now appear to have gone for a walk."

THE FAMINE SONG IS RACIST RULE JUDGES

The Famine Song is racist, three appeal court judges ruled yesterday.

And they rejected a legal challenge against a Rangers fan's conviction for racially and religiously aggravated breach of the peace. William Walls, 20, repeatedly shouted "Fenian b*******"and sang the Famine Song during the Ibrox side's game at Kilmarnock last November.

Walls,of Craigend,Glasgow, was put on probation for 18 months and given two-year football banning order at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court.

His lawyer Donald Findlay QC, had argued the Famine Song, which contains the chorus "the famine is over, why don't you go home", was an expression of politi-caopinion and free speech.

But Lord Carloway threw out the appeal, describing the lyrics as "racist" as they called upon people native to Scotland to leave the country because of their racial origins.